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ACE/MPA Seize Dozens Of Pirate Streaming Domains, Demand Data on Dozens MoreAndy Maxwell, 06 Jul 09:46 PM The past decade has seen an explosion of i

ACE/MPA Seize Dozens Of Pirate Streaming Domains, Demand Data on Dozens More Andy Maxwell, 06 Jul 09:46 PM The past decade has seen an explosion of illegal streaming sites offering the latest movies and TV shows but despite enforcement efforts in many shapes and sizes, the flood seems never ending. At the forefront of combating this threat is the Alliance For Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world's largest anti-piracy coalition featuring dozens of the planet's richest and most powerful entertainment industry groups. The Motion Picture Association is deeply embedded within ACE and together these groups have shut down a large number of illegal platforms and targeted release groups plus other closely aligned entities. In advance of some of these actions, the MPA seeks to identify the operators of pirate sites. This is often done under the authority of US courts, which regularly grant the MPA and ACE permission to obtain data held at various internet entities including hosting, CDN and domain companies. Unprecedented Demands For Information on Pirate Domains Last week ACE/MPA were back in court again, requesting pirate site operators' details from CDN company Cloudflare via three separate DMCA subpoenas. In the past these have regularly targeted large numbers of pirate domains but when combined, these three subpoenas target four dozen streaming-related domains, quite a surge for a single week. The first batch targets a number of familiar names but notably includes at least one giant site. Streamtape.com currently receives 33 million monthly visits according to SimilarWeb, drawing most of its traffic from users in the United States. Several other large platforms are also included, with significant traffic stats listed below: abcvideo.cc (3M monthly visits, popular in Poland), cloudvideo.tv (5.5M monthly, popular in US), gamovideo.com (11.3M, popular in Spain), playtube.ws (3.9M, popular in Poland), streamplay.to (3M, popular in US), streamplay.cc, streamsb.net (2.8M, populr in US), sbembed2.com, streamtape.com (33M, popular in US), strcloud.link, streamzz.to, streamz.ws (5.8M, popular in Germany), userload.co (4.3M, popular in US), eplayvid.com The second list has a larger spread in that it appears to tackle pirate sites targeted at a broader international audience. It includes the popular Fmovies (around 6 million visits per month) and MyGully, a linking site that was previously implicated in the operations of Share-Online.biz, Germany's largest file-hosting site. Share-Online.biz was shut down in 2019, with MyGully and another site called Movie-Blog accused of helping users to find pirated content on the platform. The domains of Movie-Blog were later seized by ACE/MPA after its operators were handed suspended sentences of 22 months in Germany. It appears that ACE/MPA have unfinished business at MyGully that Cloudflare may be able to help with. Domains in the second request to Cloudflare are listed as follows: cpasfini.com, zonetelechargement.cloud, mygully.com, polishsource.cz, xcine.me, streamingcommunity.co, serieskao.tv, pelishouse.com, peliculaspro.net, openpelis.net, peliculaswarez.net, seriesw.tv, paraveronline.live, dongphym.net, fullphim.net, phephimz.net, 123-hd.com , i-moviehd.com, motphjm.net, 2embed.ru, fmovies.co, 123moviesfree.net, tinyzonetv.to , myflixer.to, bstsrs.one, best-series.me IPTV Services: Rarely Included in Cloudflare Requests The vast majority of ACE/MPA requests for Cloudflare to hand over information target web-based streaming platforms that tend to present a Netflix-style interface to users. However, a third request from the MPA and ACE filed last week lists what appears to be a quartet of pirate IPTV services. They are hehestreams.com ($100 per year subscription, sports broadcasts), comstarservices.com ($79.99 per year, thousands of assorted channels), mywifi.tv and uzzi.tv (both currently down) In common with the other two requests, the subpoena requires Cloudflare to provide information on the operators of the sites in sufficient quantities to identify the infringers. "This would include the individuals' names, physical addresses, IP addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, payment information, account updates and account history," the subpoenas read. ACE/MPA Seize Dozens of Pirate Domains Two months ago, ACE reported that with backing from prominent members including major Hollywood studios, Netflix, Amazon, and other entertainment giants, it had shut down Cuevana, one of the most popular pirate streaming operations in Latin America. As part of that operation, ACE said it had seized 30 domains. The group did not name them individually but information obtained by TorrentFreak shows that ACE has recently seized dozens of domains that appear to fit the description. It's worth noting that despite claims that Cuevano had been shut down, the most popular Cuevana site, Cuevana3.io, is still online. According to SimilarWeb, Cuevana3 had more than 60 million visitors in January, which is twice as much as the combined traffic of the other domains ACE said it had taken down. The full list of seized domains (which center around the brands cuvana, replis, and pelis) is as follows: repelisgooo.com, cuevana3.app, repelisgoo.org, repelisgt.com, cuevana.link, pelisplusgo.com, cuevana.wtf, pelisplusgt.com, pelisplus.wtf, cuevana2.app, pelisplus2.live, cuevana.io, pelisplus2.app, repelisgt.net, cuevanaxd.com, cuevanagt.com, repelisgo.net, pelisplushd.app, cuevanaxd.net, pelisplushd.li, repelis2.net, pelisplushd.biz, pelisplusxd.com, cuevana3.li, cuevana.li The documentation supporting the ACE/MPA subpoenas can be found here (1,2,3,4,5 pdf) From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. Stream-Rippers Fight 'Dangerous' Data Logging Order in Court Ernesto Van der Sar, 06 Jul 12:24 PM The lawsuit between several major music companies and YouTube rippers FLVTO.biz and 2conv.com, is heating up. After a long battle over jurisdiction, the case is now back at the Virginia District Court, where both parties are gathering relevant evidence. Music Companies Request User Data The record labels are particularly interested in how people use the YouTube rippers. Among other things, they want to know what files people download, what source sites they use, and where these users are located. The Russian operator of the YouTube rippers, Tofig Kurbanov, wasn't able to share this data though. He set up his sites with privacy in mind and none of the requested data is logged. As such, there is nothing to hand over. The music companies didn't accept this answer and asked the court to order Mr. Kurbanov to start logging the data and hand these over to them. This is exactly what Magistrate Judge Theresa Buchanan did late last month. The order was a clear setback for the operator of the YouTube rippers, who is now fighting it tooth and nail. In a new filing at the Virginia federal court, his legal team objects to the order, asking the Court to set it aside. User Privacy and Dissidents At Risk The data logging requirement will lead to privacy issues in other countries, the defense notes. In Germany, for example, users' IP addresses are generally considered to be personal information. These can't simply be shared with third parties without explicit content. In addition, the Russian site operator fears that the Russian authorities may seize the access and URL logs, which could put dissidents at severe risk. "Mr. Kurbanov reasonably fears that if any of the Websites' users were to have downloaded what Russia considers to be dissident material, or material that the Russian government otherwise finds objectionable, that the Russian government could locate a Website user and possibly subject that user to an unfavorable and unfair criminal or civil proceeding," the objection reads. Impossible Choice According to the defense, the Magistrate's order presents Mr. Kurbanov with an impossible 'choice' that will end badly, no matter which option he picks. "[Mr. Kurbanov] can either comply this Court's order, which would require him to violate the laws of other countries and/or put the Websites' users at risk or he can defy the Magistrate's order and risk a finding of contempt. "It is not a position that this Court should force upon a foreign individual who has to contend with the ramifications of such data collection in other countries," Mr. Kurbanov's lawyers add. The data logging order also goes against established precedents, the defense argues. In the opposition brief, they cite various cases where courts have concluded that a party cannot be required to create data for the purpose of discovery. However, this is what was ordered here. Logging Zoom Calls Next? If the order stands then future litigants could be required to record all sorts of privacy-sensitive data, including personal phone calls. "If the Magistrate's Order were to stand, there is no practical reason why future litigants can't be ordered to start recording every digital phone call or Zoom call," the defense writes. Previously, the music companies cited the Columbia Pictures vs. TorrentSpy case, where the torrent site was also required to log user data. However, according to the defense, this was a clear outlier, that was described as "controversial" and "dangerous" by commentators. Many of these points and issues were already brought up at an earlier hearing where they were waived by the Magistrate Judge. The defense hopes that the Court will reconsider the order and set it aside. Finally, it is worth noting that the music companies said that they don't need the full IP addresses of the sites' users. They are fine with redacted versions, as long as it's clear which state users visit the sites from. Based on the opposition filing, this type of redaction was not specified in the Magistrate Judge's order — A copy of the objections to the Magistrate Judge's order is available here (pdf). From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. ©2021 TorrentFreak | Office 21338 PO Box 4336 Manchester, North West M61 0BW United Kingdom Web Version   Preferences   Forward   Unsubscribe     Powered by Mad Mimi®A GoDaddy® company